Heater regulator



March 24, 1936. E. J. DEEGAN HEATER REGULATOR Filed June 8, 1955' Huh,

ATTORN EYs Patented Mar. 24, 1936 were HEATER REGULATOR Edward J. Deegan, New York, N. Y. Application June 8, 1933, Serial No. 674,803

3 Claims.

My invention relates to a heater control, particularly adapted for the control or regulation of a domestic hot water heater, the principles of which are, however, applicable to other types of heaters.

It is common practice at the present time to have a small domestic heater for heating water and storing such heated water in a storage tank. Thermostatic controls have been connected to such a heating system, but such controls, so far as I am aware, have been on either the ash-pit or lower damper and/or on the stack damper or check draft. With such prior art heating systems, water is heated in the heater and hot water stored in the storage tank, and when the temperature (or in case of some steam devices the steam pressure) reaches a predetermined limit, the ash-pit or lower damper is usually closed and the check draft or stack damper is opened. However, when such action takes place, the fire is usually burning briskly and the heat of radiation from the glowing fire bed and the hot gases from the fire, which continues to burn through leakage of air, both continue to heat the heating surfaces of the boiler or heater and continue to heat the water therein so that there is a coasting past the predetermined temperature or pressure condition desired and the regulation is imperfect at best,

It is the principal object of my invention to obviate the above difficulty and toprovide a heater system particularly though not exclusively adapted for domestic hot water purposes in which the temperature (or pressure) is maintained substantially uniform or not substantially above a predetermined limit.

It is a more specific object to provide a heater system of the character indicated with a novel automatic control mechanism.

It is a further object to simplify the connection of the automatic control mechanism to a heater.

Other objects and features of invention will either be hereinafter pointed out or will become apparent upon a reading of the specification.

In the drawing which shows, for illustrative purposes only, preferred forms of the invention- Fig. 1 is a view in side elevation of a domestic hot water system, parts being shown in section;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view in side elevation of a modified form of heater,

In said drawing, 5 indicates generally a more or less conventional type of hot water heater comprising a lower ash-pit section secured to and supporting an upper hot water heating section I. The water heating section 1 is provided with a side water leg 8 extending therearound and a connected or continuation top water leg portion 9. From the water heating space 89, there leads a pipe I which ultimately leads into the storage tank H, but, for a purpose to be later described, the pipe ii! is connected to one side l2 of the run of a T and to the side outlet l3 of said T the pipe M leads to the storage tank H. The heater 5 is provided, as usual, with an ash pit door I5 having an ash-pit orlower draft damper or control valve Hi. The particular heater shown is provided with a stack draft damper IT. The heater 5 has a top opening or firing opening I8, normally closed by a fire door I 9. The level of the fire bed is preferably maintained below the firing opening l8.

During normal operation, in accordance with my invention, the lower draft "5 at all times remains open, as indicated in Fig. 1, and the stack damper I! also remains open, both dampers being set to the desired openings in accordance with draft conditions, etc. Instead of controlling the dampers I 6-1! F automatically in accordance with the temperature (or pressure condition) of the fluid heated in the heater, I control an opening such as the fire door opening is so as to admit cold air above the fire level.

In the form shown, to the side 20 of the T opposite the side |2 thereof, I connect a thermostatic (or pressure control) device 2! of conventional or any desired form, it being understood that upon a rise in the temperature, or a rise in pressure, according to the type of thermostatic device employed, above a predetermined limit, the arm 22 controlled by the thermostatic device and adjusted by means of the slidable weight23 is lifted so as to pull the chain 24 connected to the arm 22 and to the fire door l9 so as to open the same an amount corresponding to the degree of excess temperature or pressure occurring at the thermostatic device. When the temperature of the water, for example, in the Water leg heating space 8-9, or, more properly, in the T exceeds a predetermined limit, the door, or what may be termed valve in above the level of the fire bed, passes across a large part of the water heating surface, and cools the latter, and consequently the water in contact therewith, and passes to the stack. Thus, even though the fire continues to burn, as it will for a short time, the hot gases are cooled by the cold incoming air and the heating surfaces passed over by the cold air in reaching the stack will be cooled, and there will be substanl9, opens and cold air then rushes 45 tially no coasting past the predetermined temperature desired.

It is a great convenience in connecting the thermostatic control mechanism to be able to connect the same into a simple T, as illustrated, forming part of the water connection, rather than to make independent connections either into the drum or into the heater. Thus, in any heater of the general type disclosed, in order to put in a thermostatic control, it is only necessary to substitute a T for the usual elbow connection connecting the pipes Ill-l4.

The general operation of a heater as disclosed, water circulation, etc., are so well understood that no description thereof is deemed necessary.

In a heater of the general type disclosed in Fig. 2, that is, Where the fire door isat the side rather than in the top of the heater, I provide a special door or valve arrangement permitting ready operation by thermostatic means of the type disclosed in Fig. 1. As shown in Fig. 2, the heater designated generally 5' has a vertically hinged sidewise opening door 25. The door 25 preferably has an opening therein leading to the space above the level of the fire bed, and such opening is controlled by a hinged door or valve l9 which may be connected as by means of a chain 24' to the arm 22 corresponding in all respects to the same arm of Fig. 1.

While the invention has been specifically illustrated as embodied in a thermostatically controlled water heater, itis to be understood that the principles of the invention are applicable also to a steam generator, in which case the thermostatic device designated 2| would be replaced by a diaphragm or other type of pressure responsive means, and the action would be substantially the same as heretofore described. My invention makes it possible, with only simple changes, to provide a domestic hot water heater or the like with means for quite accurately controlling and regulating the temperature of hot water (or the pressure of steam) with the consequent benefits of accurate regulation, among which may be mentioned a saving of fuel, clear instead of so-called rusty hot water caused by overheating, and carefree operation.

While the invention has been disclosed as specifically applied to a particular type of heater and as conventionally arranged, it is to be understood that various changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A hot water service system comprising a hot water storage tank, a hot water heater having a domed water chamber in the upper portion thereof with a combustion chamber directly thereunder, a cold water duct leading from the lower part of said tank and into said water chamber, a hot water duct leading upwardly from said chamber and into said. tank to provide continuous circulation of water from said water chamber to said tank and back again, an outgoing flue from said combustion chamber, a vent in the dome of the heater communicating directly with the combustion chamber, a closure therefor, a thermostat in said hot water duct leading from said chamber to said tank, means controlled thereby and operatively connected to said closure to open the latter to admit relatively cool air directly into the combustion chamber to cool the inner wall of said domed water chamber and to lower the temperature of the gases in the combustion chamber when the temperature in the hot water pipe has risen to a predetermined degree and vice versa.

2. In a hot water storage system, a heater having a domed hot water chamber with a combustion chamber directly thereunder, a bottom draft, a stack draft leading outwardly from said combustion chamber, a cool air vent leading directly into said combustion chamber, a controllable closure therefor, an upwardly ascending hot water pipe leading from said hot water chamber for connecting the same to a storage tank, another pipe leading into the hot water chamber for connection with the lower portion of said tank, a thermostat in the upper portion of said hot water pipe, means connecting said thermostat With said closure to open the same when the water in that part of said pipe reaches a predetermined high temperature and vice versa.

3. In a hot water storage system, a heater having a hot water chamber, a combustion chamber encircled by said hot Water chamber, a bottom draft, a stack leading outwardly from said combustion chamber, a cool air vent in the top of said heater leading directly into said combustion chamber, a controllable closure for said cool air vent, an upwardly ascending hot water pipe leading from saicLhot water chamber for connecting the same to a storage tank, another pipe leading into the hot water chamber for connection with the lower portion of said tank, a thermostat in said hot water pipe, means connecting said thermostat with said closure to open the same when the water in that part of said pipe reaches a predetermined high temperature and vice versa.

EDWARD J. DEEGAN. 

